Some may not think twice about soap, but for others, it's a critical part of wellbeing. That's why Soap for Hope exists.
Soap for Hope is a soap drive for Steinbach Community Outreach (SCO), collecting hygiene products for those who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford them.
The drive is running tomorrow (April 24) at Pharmasave in Steinbach from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
"This last year we had 200 families coming through our doors every month for (soap) packages. So that translates into about 2,400 packages in a year, which is a lot of soap," says Madeleine Thiessen, SCO's executive director.
@steinbach_online Join us for #SoapforHope on April 24 at Pharmasave in Steinbach to support #SteinbachCommunityOutreach ♬ original sound - SteinbachOnline
She says those packages include liquid hand soap, laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo and body wash.
In the end, she says it boils down to offering people dignity.
"People come in here and they can't take a shower because they don't have any soap. Or, they can't do their laundry because they don't have any laundry soap, so they come in with dirty clothes and go out feeling not great about themselves," Thiessen says.
At times, she says having soap can also be someone's ticket to having shelter for a night, or several, because it can be a form of currency among people without homes.
"They'll bring laundry detergent and say, 'Hey, I've got some of this. Can I stay the night?'" she says.
The executive director is looking forward to Thursday, when soap donations are being collected at Pharmasave in Steinbach—especially after the success of the first event last year.
"We were buried in soap," Thiessen remembers.
"I was surprised. It was just incredible how much the community came together... I have never seen that much soap in my life."
The campaign saved SCO thousands of dollars that could then be used elsewhere, she says.
Now, the organization's shelves are looking bare again. Residents are encouraged to come to Pharmasave with donations of liquid hand soap, laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo and body wash. They can be any brand, and any size.
@steinbach_online #SoapforHope is BACK for year 2 and we want to make it bigger and better than last year! Help us collect soap for #SteinbachCommunityOutreach ♬ original sound - SteinbachOnline
Pharmasave in Steinbach will also have soap packages available for donors to purchase for SCO.
Body wash is especially important, Thiessen says.
"Someone can go from house to house if they're couch surfing...and still have the same bottle," she says, noting SCO guests are also getting excited for the campaign.
She thanks the community for all the help it has already given SCO, and continues to give.
"They're extremely generous," she says.
Be a Soap-erhero and join MIX 96, Country 107, AM 1250, and SteinbachOnline on Thursday at Pharmasave in Steinbach for Soap for Hope!
Written with files from Corny Rempel and Adi Loewen